Controversy as Kohli dismissed for 123

Stoic skipper Virat Kohli's outstanding century ended in contentious fashion as India slipped to 7-252 at lunch on day three of the second Test in Perth, where Australia hold a 74-run lead.

Kohli, who marched to the crease with India in deep trouble at 2-8 on Saturday, outclassed Australia's star-studded attack in a knock of 123 to doggedly shift momentum in the match.

But the gifted right-hander was out edging to Pat Cummins in the penultimate over of the session, with the dismissal upheld after third umpire Nigel Llong agonised over every angle of Peter Handscomb's slips catch to see whether it had carried.

Llong eventually decided there wasn't conclusive evidence to overturn the on-field call and reprieve Kohli, who clearly thought otherwise as he trudged off Optus Stadium.

The morning session ended with Mohammed Shami out edging a Nathan Lyon delivery for a golden duck.

The hosts struck in Sunday's opening over, when Lyon had Ajinkya Rahane caught behind on 51, then Mitchell Starc struck Kohli's left elbow during the following over.

Kohli didn't flinch. The superstar was unperturbed by either setback, with an ice pack in the morning drinks break the only treatment he received during the session.

Kohli brought up the 25th ton of his Test career - and record-equaling sixth in Australia - with a sweetly-timed straight drive off Starc's second delivery with the second new ball.

A low-key celebration, in which Kohli seemingly made the point that his bat had done all the talking, was a clear statement of intent that the world's best batsman was hungry for more runs and a victory that would ensure his team retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy.

The fact it was Kohli's second-slowest Test century, coming from 214 balls, was an indicator of his composure during some challenging spells on day two.

Kohli's milestone drew him level with Sachin Tendulkar for most Test centuries in Australia by an Indian.

Josh Hazlewood, having been uncharacteristically ineffectual for much of the innings, removed Hanuma Vihari for 20 with the second new ball.